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Las Vegas Magic

One of the perks of writing for the Las Vegas Magic community, as I do, is that I get to create content which features the work of magicians that I admire (and have been fortunate enough to meet) – and that I am able to call more than a few of those magicians personal friends.

Recently I have discovered one of the drawbacks of writing for a community that I know, and love, so well. In the early morning hours of July 28th – I learned of the sudden and deeply unexpected passing of a dear friend. That friend was an active participant in the magic community – and I realized that I would have need to craft an article regarding the passing of a person that was dear to me.

My view was that I could no longer do anything for Bill in this life other than writing him the very best tribute that I could.

I hope that somehow–through my words–I have found a way to keep his memory bright and alive in the hearts of those that knew and adored him. It is also my hope that my words can serve as an introduction to the people reading that Bill never had the chance to meet.

It was with great sadness, and tremendous distress, that the Las Vegas magic community learned about the passing of one of their own during the early morning hours of July 28th. Las Vegas magician William (Bill) Robinson died unexpectedly from complications involving his heart.

The rest of Bill Robinson’s tribute (with photographs) can be found, HERE.

Magician Nathan Burton provides an enjoyable afternoon of entertainment at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Attendees of the show might recall Nathan’s appearances on the popular NBC show America’s Got Talent. Burton’s star quality ultimately earned him headlining status in March of 2008 and he has been wowing his audiences, ever since.

Burton opens his show with an impressive appearance of multiple Las Vegas Showgirls. He moves on, quickly–whilst engaging his audience with a tale from his youth–to performing one of the tricks he is most known for – flushing a “security guard” down a toilet. Nathan provides rapid-fire comedic entertainment . . . with a magicians keen eye being successfully applied to the tiniest of details. Each magical interlude is enjoyable, as well as being expertly permeated with his trademark style of performing what is, truly, the best in comedy magic. (Article continues, HERE.)

Close-up magician Armando Vera can be found entertaining pre-show audiences attending the Nathan Burton Comedy Magic show at the Flamingo. Vera’s chatty and comical VIP Experience at the Nathan Burton Show takes place on the balcony level of the Flamingo Main Showroom. The VIP Experience is an intimate, close-up gathering: it is also the only pre-show of its kind in Las Vegas.

This columnist was introduced to the work of Armando Vera whilst attending the International Magic Experience. Armando performed an overwhelmingly beautiful chop cup routine during his IMX performance which touched many an audience member on an emotional level. Based upon that performance, alone, this columnist was most thrilled to have received an invitation to see Armando’s VIP Experience performance.

The International Magic Experience was hosted by the Orleans Hotel & Casino May 21-23, 2012. The Orleans proved to be an excellent choice for the placement of this event considering both the large theater on premises . . . as well as the Orleans offering comfortable, well-appointed conference rooms. The spaciousness of the theater–and all of the generously-sized conference rooms–had been thoughtful amenities which were much appreciated by the event attendees as well as the many guest artists and/or performers present during this spectacular event.

The organizers of the International Magic Experience (IMX) promised “3 days of nothing but magic overload” and they successfully delivered on that promise. This reporter was on hand in order to offer exclusive media coverage during the entire run of event. Summed up in 6 words?

Magician Michael Turco can be found performing during his energetic stage show in the Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood. Audiences might remember Turco from his sixth season appearance on the popular NBC television show America’s Got Talent. That talent has since arrived in Las Vegas and lucky ticket holders can catch Turco’s show–Magic and Mayhem–and experience an enjoyable afternoon of mystery and illusion.

Four talented dancers (Rachel Hall, Ashleigh Hunter, Shana Menkevich and Britne Lopez) open the show with a choreographed number which is pleasing and upbeat. Their dance routine successfully establishes the tempo of the show that is to come. Each of the dancers perform well as they provide visual interest on a relatively large stage.

How much do you know about Las Vegas magician Mac King? Here are some little known facts about the performer which headlines in one of the very few family-friendly shows available on the Las Vegas Strip:

While performing his cut-and-restored rope routine, Mac severed the tip of his thumb. Badly injured, he tried to stop the bleeding. When that didn’t work, Mac asked if there was a doctor or nurse in the audience. A nurse did come forward and managed to stop the bleeding. King finished that show, as well as the one that followed, before going to the hospital in order to be treated for his injury.

King graduated–in 1981–from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Macalester is a private liberal arts college. King attended the college on a National Merit Scholarship. Mac graduated–with Highest Honors–with a double major in Magic and Anthropology.

West side of the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Parisian magician Stefan Vanel has moved to the Harmon Theater at Planet Hollywood. His recent move might have something to do with the two different ways his name is currently being spelled on promotional materials. He performed under his given name, Stephane Vanel, whilst headlining in The Magic of Paris at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Stefan began his magical career by accident. In his early days he worked as an underwear model for Armani. One day, whilst awaiting his turn on the catwalk, Vanel had been practicing flourishes with a pack of cards. When it came time for him to walk down the runway, there was no place to put his cards. Vanel quickly adlibbed a manipulative card routine which he performed as he walked down the runway. The audience response was so great that his accidental performance unexpectedly landed him a weekly television magic show–entitled Fun TV Magic–in Paris, France.